United Nations, 31 July 2026(Kamran Raja):Pakistan reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive, people-centred and development-oriented artificial intelligence (AI) during a United Nations briefing on the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) and the High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance.
Delivering Pakistan’s statement, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the United Nations, congratulated China on the successful convening of the Conference and welcomed the establishment of the World AI Cooperation Organization (WAICO).
He told the meeting that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar represented Pakistan at the Conference, while Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had endorsed the initiative during his visit to China in May. He said that Pakistan is proud to join WAICO as a founding member.
Ambassador Asim emphasized that developing countries require equitable access to data, computing capacity, AI models, tools and technical expertise to participate meaningfully in the global AI economy. He welcomed the Conference outcomes as providing a practical framework for strengthening international cooperation.
He highlighted three priorities for future collaboration: strengthening AI infrastructure and capacity in developing countries; leveraging AI to advance sustainable development in areas such as healthcare, education, agriculture and climate resilience; and promoting responsible AI governance through international cooperation on standards, safety and rules.
Reaffirming Pakistan’s support for inclusive multilateral cooperation, the Permanent Representative said Pakistan would continue working with China and other partners to ensure AI serves shared prosperity and sustainable development for all.